1939-40 UK General Election, Orkney and Shetland Result

A UK General Election was scheduled to occur before the end of 1940. The candidates for the Orkney and Shetland seat were selected but ultimately the election did not happen due to the outbreak of World War Two. Normal elections did not resume again until July 1945.

The Candidates

Towards 1945

Basil Neven-Spence retained his seat at the 1945 election, albeit with a greatly reduced majority. Lady Louise Glen-Coats found the travel between islands on small boats to be too much and nominated Jo Grimond, who would later go on to represent the isles for 28 years, to be her successor. Of Lady Louise Glen-Coats, Grimond said:

"[Lady Louise Glen-Coats] very kindly suggested me as her successor. It is to her in the first place that I owe twenty-eight years as their Member. Had Lady Glen-Coats not recommended me to the Liberals there, I should never have been adopted – and probably would never have been an MP at all. I am profoundly grateful to her."